My Model A (2-dr sedan) has a pair of coil-over shocks in the back, hooked to a TCI '32 frame, parallel 4-bar and Ford 9". THE PROBLEM IS THE CH***IS/BODY SITS 1/2" LOW IN THE LEFT REAR. The coil-overs are 10-1/4" compressed, 14-1/2" extended. My ride height is 13-1/2" driverless. First thing I tried was changing the coilovers from side to side, no change. Then I moved the driver's side coilover to the next higher (1") hole on the axle mount. Then the car sat perfectly level. But, what a friggin' eyesore!! Looking at it from the back, the left coilover not only had the lower mounting bolt 1" higher than the right, but the overall length of the coil spring was 9", where the right coil spring was 9-1/2". WTF? I expected to move the mounting bolt up 1" and have the ch***is/body move upward correspondingly (1"). But in reality the ch***is/body moved up 3/4" and the spring not only moved up 1", but compressed 1/2". When the p***enger side coilover had the adjusting collar down all the way that no threads showed below it, and the driver's side was tightened up enough that 1" of threads was showing, the driver side sat 1/2" lower in the rear than the p***enger side, without the driver. And, the front mono-leaf spring shackles are never identical in their angles. Shouldn't hey be the same? And could the mono-leaf be out of arch on one side, causing the right side front to be a little high, and exaggerating that little figure as the frame rails widen to the rear? Last thing I did today was jack up the left rear to make it level. But the coilover mounting bolts are the same distance apart from top to bottom on both sides, which means the left coilover never extended, even though the car is 1/2" higher. I've tried everything I know except for putting a heavier spring on the driver's side coilover......like a 175 lb, with a 150 lb on the p***enger's side. I'd actually like the car to sit level with me (180 lbs) in the driver's seat. Any input is greatly appreciated.
Do you have a panhard bar in the front that is binding the spring up? Without seein' the car but, with you switchin' rear shocks side to side with no change it sounds like the front is the problem. Do you have a front spreader bar that you can jack the car on? Smokey
you may just have more weight on one side. These are fairly small cars and they sit funny is weight isn't distributed well. The real question is how does it sit with you in it? Will you often have a p***enger?
If I remove the four rear body to frame mounting bolts, leaving only the front two, and then jack up the rear of the body, clearing the rails by a good 1", the ch***is raises up a couple inches, but is still lower by a 1/2" on the driver's side. I haven't measured it with a driver, but it's definitely lower still. A lot of times I have the Mrs. riding shotgun.
Are the tires matched and inflated side to side? If both upper coil-over mounts are symetrical, both shocks set to the same length and preload, both tires match and inflated equally, you likely have something in a bind up front. When you tightened the spring clamp bolts up front, was there weight on the axle? If not, one side of the spring may be overly tightened. Panhard mentioned above might be an issue if you have one for cross-steering. Make sure front tires are equally inflated. Take the front shocks off, just in case they are funny. Shouldn't be an issue, but a gas charged shock can lift on a car.
I'm thinking it's a weight balance issue. Get a local circle track racer to help you out with his scales if you can. Replace all 4 shocks with bar stock/tubing, matching the lengths EXACTLY from side to side long enough so that they support the weight at ride height. Then weigh it at all corners. My guess is that you'll find more weight to the driver's side. Most likely, but not neccessarily, in the rear.
what rate springs do you have on it now if you say 175 lb is a heavier spring? your shocks are 10-1/4" compressed and 14-1/2 open.....and with all the weight of the car on them now they only compressed to 13-1/2?
All shock mounts are symetrical, all tires are matched side-to-side and properly inflated and shocks and springs are equal. A bind in the front sounds like a possibility. Any torque specs you can give me on the spring clamp bolts? I do have cross-steering panhard.
I have All-American coil-overs that are 10-1/4" compressed, 14-1/2" extended. My ride height is 13-1/2" driverless. The coil springs are progressive wound, with large diameter wire. I have thought for a while that they have too heavy a poundage rating (1000 lbs sprung weight aft, driverless) but I've been busy at the other end with the motor. Now I'm concentrating on the rear.
Today, with the left rear corner jacked up a bit to level, I removed the front mono-leaf spring clamp to make sure the spring wasn't busted. It's fine, so I put it back and evenly re-torqued all the nuts that hold it in place. Then I removed the bolt that holds the front panhard bar (which was tight due to slight misalignment). After adjusting the heim joint a couple of turns I effortlessly replaced the bolt and nut. Then I disconnected both front shocks. And after doing all that, guess what? Still no change. Ch***is/body still sits low on the left side, with the left rear corner being the lowest at about 5/8". Can I run a heavier poundage spring on the left side rear coilover, so the car will sit level when I'm behind the wheel? If so, how will that affect the bounce in the rear when going over bumps?
Does, it have a panhard bar on rear,? if so make sure the rear is not shifted off to left side, it does not take much to make it lower on one side...
Are you tightening the front spring bolts a little at a time? Of clamping one side down completely, then moving onto the other side? Is one of your shackles super tight and the other one is loose? Just trying to think of some obvious things that may have been over looked. Also, are you sure that the frame is square?
Find a racer that can actually check the spring rate. Odds are the left spring is weaker than the right due to use, manufacturing etc........
****MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH**** I tried one more thing just now. I let just enough air out of the right front tire to lower the center of the hubcap 1/2". Now everything is perfectly level, the rear of the ch***is/body and the front frame horns. The only things outta whack are the front axle, steering linkage, panhard bar, the shock is extended further on the p***enger side and the mono-leaf shackles are still out of alignment with each other. Up until now I kinda thought that the rear end was causing the front end to appear as I've described, but now I think that a new mono-leaf may solve the problem. Shouldn't both shackles be pretty aligned with each other. I don't think the frame is tweaked if everything's plumb except the front axle and components. All this time I should have been practicing urology and not proctology. Ha Ha Any thoughts you guys, like maybe a new spring??
I've always kept a suspecting eye on mono-leaf springs. It is possible that they got heat treated improperly and may have different spring rates side for side. Before you buy another spring, turn that one around and see if the problem reverses.
I'm glad you said that. Great minds think alike. I'll get under it in the morning. Thanks. If you ever want any tee shirts for your business, holler. I owe ya'.
I'd also check to make sure that the hole was drilled in the center, if it's off to one side I'd think it would sit in the cross member crooked.
I measured it yesterday. It appears to be centered. I'll know better when I remove it. The arch of the spring looks a little different. Nothing I can really put my finger on, just doesn't seem right. The shackles should be indcative that something's amiss. Lemme get under there and I'll holler back. The best thing about these forums is when someone gets back with how they fixed the problem. So many times HAMBers try to help and never hear back. Hate that! Thanks.
from the looks of the shackles I'm suspecting your panhard bar and 4 bar alignment. I would disconnect one side of the 4 bar linkage (unbolt the rear of the drivers side for instance) and adjust the panhard bar until the axle is centered and the shackles are the same angle. afterwards check to see if your axles are parallel with each other, if they are you can adjust your 4 bar so that they will line up with the holes and bolt it back up. I think your axles are out of parallel and your panhard bar is pulling your axle out os center. one of a dozen things it could be....
Well, today I discovered that the front spring perches are a tad forward of the spring eyes. The reason I noticed is because when I lower the car down on my 4-post lift with a couple of jack stands under the frame horns thusly supporting the front end off the ground the left tire doesn't travel down smoothly and actually stops before it's completely relaxed. I can grab a hold of the right tire and move it up and down, but the left tire needs to be pushed down, and afterwards I can't lift it back up at all. By raising and lowering the lift I can hear a squeaking and feel a chattering at the left shackle, like something's in a bind (WD40 didn't do much). The right spring perch and spring eye really don't line up either, but I can move the tire up and down. It seems by looking down on the misaligned spring eye and perch that the 4-bars need to be shortened a bit (maybe 1/4") because all four of them are adjusted as short as they can be. Any thoughts?
I had a similar problem when I first got my coupe. The front crossmember was installed parallel with the frame rail, no angle for caster, the hairpins were adjusted to give about 5 degrees of caster to the axle. When I would stop some time after going around a corner it would hold the "lean" when stopped. The front spring was binding badly. I fixed mine with adjustable pearch bolts, no more problems. Look your front end over real close for binding. I'll throw in another vote for not liking monoleaf springs. Good luck, sounds like your on the right track.
Problem solved! I did a few different things. First I changed the front spring end-for-end and lined up the shackles. The spring had no effect, but by m***aging the shackles and applying some lithium grease to the inner and outer sides of the bushings all the binding disappeared and the shackles have the same angle now at ride height. Next I adjusted the rear panhard bar so that the rear axle is a bit further over to the p***enger side, shimmed the body a little more on the left rear and finally took a couple of turns on the coilover adjusting collar. A little here, a little there and the car is sitting perfectly level now. There is no one thing that's obvious like before. Thanks to the HAMBERs that took time to help.
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